46) The Final Battle
"That's our son", Yoshi commented as they watched Grani take off.
"Yeah, he sure is", Takehiro agreed.
"And my cousin", Rai added. ...
"It's so warm", Koichi commented from inside his Data Sphere, "when we become Sakuyamon there's a warm feeling".
"Oh, we don't need to become Sakuyamon for that", Renamon pointed out.
Sakuyamon and Hououmon were flying beside Grani, safely away from the intakes.
Inside the Kernel Sphere
Juri was trying to reach Calumon. Both were restrained by those red tendrils. Juri could just about reach him, but not quite.
"Calumon! Calumon!", she called out.
"Juri! Culu!"
As she tried again, her digivice dropped from her small purse.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"We'll rescue Juri this time", Takato declared. "Then we'll be able to destroy the D-reaper once and for all".
"We'll definitely defeat it", Guilmon agreed.
"I didn't think it could spread this far", Dukemon remarked to Impmon. Grani was just passing over the outer fringe of the Chaos Mass.
"Yeah, tell me about it. We were stuck back here all the while you were screwing off at a fancy resort", he mock complained. "Over there", he called out, pointing to something flashing red and blue in the distance, the same colours as an airport beacon. "That has to be what Yamaki and Janyu have for us". Impmon figured the choice of colours was deliberate.
"Now what?", Dukemon asked.
"Jump for it. That's the only way", Impmon told him. "As for Grani..."
"I will fly around it until you get back", Grani's on-board system suggested.
"Sounds like a plan", Impmon agreed. "I'm relieved you can make autonomous decisions... we never gave Violet Zone fighters your capability".
"I never expected to have such capabilities. Compliments to your Wild Bunch for that".
Sakuyamon was the first in. Impmon was slowing Grani, once more behind the power curve to fly slowly enough to open the canopy, and jump for it. Entering the floating sphere didn't change Impmon, though Dukemon devolved as soon as he entered. Jen and Terriermon were already inside, waiting for them.
"Hey, Guilmon!", Terriermon called out as he leaped from Jen's shoulder to Guilmon's head. "Missed you".
"Yeah, me too. Too bad you couldn't come with us. We had a good time".
Hououmon was next to arrive, devolving back to Lutramon and Ruki. A few minutes later, Marineangemon delivered Kenta and Kazu. Terriermon greeted Renamon the same way.
"Hey!", Renamon said, as she wasn't expecting this. "We haven't been away that long".
"Moumentai!"
"Shibumi made this for us so's we can operate effectively inside the Chaos Mass", Jen announced as he showed them the Red Card.
"What do we do with that?", Ruki asked.
"Scan it", Takato said. He knew what she was thinking: was this a one-time card like the Blue Cards?
"How about us?", Kenta asked.
"Huh?", Jen was interrupted.
"Don't forget about us!", Cherubimon announced as he appeared.
"Shuichon!", Takato called out.
"Would've been here sooner, but Mom took some extra persuasion to let us come", she explained.
"I'm surprised she let you come at all... You did get her permission?", Jen asked.
"Lopmon and I pointed out it wasn't right for us to just leave you to fight on your own", Shuichon reminded.
"It wouldn't be right", Lopmon agreed. "I can't do this on my own", he pointed out.
"As I was saying", Jen explained. "There's just the one Red Card, but we can all use it..."
"What about us?", Kenta asked again.
"And us!"
"Ryo! You made it!", Kazu called out.
There was another last minute arrival: Ryo and Cyberdramon.
"I wasn't expecting...", Takato began, "I thought your father would ground you until you're thirty, the way he looked after we arrived".
"Yeah", Ruki agreed.
"He was most upset", Ryo explained. "It was Monodramon, actually. He put up a charm offensive, and won the 'rents over. It wasn't hard to persuade them that this is our responsibility too. Not that they're exactly happy about it..."
"Since your partner is already a Mega, and you don't biomerge, you should stay outside. Once we begin our attack, there's no telling what the D-reaper might do. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of more attack drones and agents trying to split our forces", Koichi explained.
"That goes for you too", he said of Ryo. "You weren't there when we received the ability to biomerge to Mega. Kenta and Marineangemon can use some back-up".
Cyberdramon growled out what he took for an agreement.
"We will also lend our assistance", Lopmon volunteered.
"But...", Shuichon started to protest.
"In know you want to fight with me", Jen explained. "Koichi is right: people outside will need protection too, especially Yamaki and Father's colleagues. They're natural targets, and sitting ducks. Your help outside could be critical".
"I... guess so", she agreed.
"I'm not exactly happy about not being involved in the main fight", Ryo said. "I see your point, and we'll do our part to give you the time you need", he agreed.
"Then it's decided: Marineangemon, Cherubimon and Cyberdramon will hold down the fort while you guys take care of whatever's in there", Kenta agreed. "I get to fight along side the Legendary Tamer".
Jen, Koichi, Takato, Ruki, and Kazu scanned that Red Card. At first, it didn't seem to have done anything.
"Let's go!", Takato called out.
As soon as they'd left that special area, they were back to their Mega forms. Cuchulamon and Dukemon were picked up by Grani. Saint Galgomon, Hououmon and Sakuyamon joined up.
"This is it", Saint Galgomon announced, "we're goin' in!"
There was a flash of light as they made contact with the Chaos Mass. There was a momentary discomfort as their structure altered according to Shibumi's algorithm. They also noticed they were making red waves, like shock waves, as they passed through the Chaos Mass, this time, much thicker than Dukemon remembered it.
Hypnos Temporary HQ
"Five digimon have entered the D-reaper zone", Riley announced.
"Ummmmm...", Yamaki replied. He looked to Janyu
"My resolve is firm, no matter what anyone thinks of me", Janyu reaffirmed to Yamaki's unasked question.
"Please don't blame yourself", Yamaki told him. "We have no choice but to leave it to them now".
"Dolphin! We have to prepare Operation Doodlebug for deployment", Janyu called out.
"Babel, confirm our satellite link", Dolphin requested.
"Okie-dokie"
"A miracle will happen", Yamaki told himself. "We will make a miracle happen".
"This is f'kin awful", Sakuyamon announced.
"Yeah, much worse than before", Saint Galgomon agreed.
That last time they saw the inside of the Chaos Mass, the devastation was nowhere near the proportions they were seeing now. That time, at least the park's wooded areas had been left alone.
"Where's Juri being held?", Dukemon asked.
"Over there", Cuchulamon replied, pointing out the "statue" of the "goddess" that the old Hypnos building had become.
"The welcoming committee", Sakuyamon announced as the first attack drones appeared. These being the first ones they'd seen that had offensive capability.
Cuchulamon flicked the switch on the joystick, and fired Grani's 20mm's at them, taking them out with ease.
Another agent appeared, this one not seen before. It was conical in shape, purple and lime green with very long arms and hands with wicked claws. It appeared directly above Saint Galgomon.
"Burst Shot!", he fired back at it after rolling onto his back.
"Fuck! There's no end to them!", he called out as his attack did no damage, and the thing's body began spawning more attack drones. That wasn't the worst of it, however. It opened its mouth and fired some blue ray...
A warning klaxon sounded: "Flame out!", Cuchulamon announced.
The shot had missed Saint Galgomon, but hit Grani, sending it tumbling, end-over-end. Cuchulamon let go of the controls, and the craft righted itself.
"I thought we were gonners", Dukemon said.
"Ain't over yet"
Cuchulamon tried restarting the port engine. There was a loud pop, and yellow fire poured out. He slammed his hand against the red button that lit up, discharging the fire bottle. The flames went out.
"We're goin' down!", he announced. Not enough altitude to jettison the fuel. "When I blow the canopy, run like hell!" The terrain was very rough, and even a gear-up landing was going to be very difficult and dangerous. Grani hit, skipped, and bounced along the "ground", Cuchulamon doing everything to avoid a cartwheel, or nose-over. After what seemed too long, Grani skidded to a stop, and Cuchulamon blew the canopy. Dukemon knew right away what he meant, as the kerosene-like scent of jet fuel hung heavy in the air.
"Amethyst Mandala!"
"Crimson Flare!"
Sakuyamon and Hououmon attacked the drone that had downed Grani. The combined attacks did it. Cuchulamon and Dukemon watched it shedding mass, as it glowed white-hot. It crashed to the ground, bursting apart.
"Grani", Dukemon called out. "I'll be back to rescue you somehow", he promised.
Cuchulamon and Dukemon had no alternative now, as they ran towards the "goddess".
Inside the Kernel Sphere
For whatever reason, the D-reaper released Juri as she dropped to her knees.
"Calumon! Calumon, are you OK?", she asked, as she picked him off the floor. "Hang in there, Calumon". She couldn't tell if he was well or not. "No. No more of this", she said. "I don't want to lose anyone else".
She picked up her digivice. Its message had not changed. "Is this something like destiny, too?", she asked.
"Calumon, we'll get out of here together. We'll be good friends like before, and we'll have lots to smile about", Juri promised.
A block from Hypnos Temporary HQ
Two cops were patrolling with lights flashing, on the look out for any stragglers who had not evacuated the area. As they were approaching an intersection, that agent with the bulbous head and numerous yellow mouths stepped in their path, as they narrowly avoided hitting it.
It opened all its mouths, and launched a sonic attack. The cops barely got out in time as a red beam exploded their patrol car. All they could do was watch it burn.
"Everything becomes nothing", the D-reaper agent announced. "As though humans never existed at all. Everything becomes nothing..."
"Lightening Spear!"
"Erase Claw!"
Cherubimon and Cyberdramon blew it apart into Chaos Mass.
"Looks like they were right", Cherubimon said, "they are appearing on the outside".
"Glad you arrived when you did", one officer was saying.
"Too bad we couldn't've gotten here sooner", Kenta said, as he looked to the still burning car.
"You shouldn't..."
"Pee pii plepu poo"
"We're together", Kenta explained. "My partner: Marineangemon. He says he's glad you got out OK... And Cherubimon, another colleague".
"So are we", Ryo said. "My partner: Cyberdramon", he introduced.
Cyberdramon just growled with bared fangs.
"How did you know?", one officer asked, perplexed.
"I don't really. I just kind of sense what he means", Kenta explained.
"Don't mind Cyberdramon", Ryo explained. "He's always like that, once he senses his opponent".
"You really shouldn't be in an evacuation area", the cop said. "But if we didn't see you, we can't stop you".
"Didn't see any civilians", the other agreed with his partner.
"Just be careful", the other reminded.
"We always are", Kenta and Ryo reassured.
Inside the D-reaper Zone
Cuchulamon and Dukemon were running toward the "goddess" while Sakuyamon and Hououmon were flying ahead for air cover.
"Cuchulamon!", Saint Galgomon called out, "cover the rear".
"If the power of the digimon and Hypnos are combined, then we can't lose", Jen was saying from his Data Sphere. "This has to be the final battle!"
"The final battle", Koichi agreed.
"I am the Digimon Queen", Ruki said from hers. "Now I understand what that means".
"If you're the queen", Koichi said, "then what does that make me?"
"We haven't changed...", Takato announced.
"What the hell are you talking about?", Ruki asked. "Speak for yourself".
"What is it about us that hasn't changed?", Jen asked.
"Well, we're trying to save Juri and two worlds", Takato explained. "It's kind of amazing and all, yet we really haven't changed at all".
"Bullshit", Koichi disagreed. "I don't see how you can say that".
"But humans don't change all that easily", Ruki said.
"Maybe not, but I personally think I've changed a good deal since meeting Renamon. I never would have dreamed of being here, doing this, if Renamon had landed on another rooftop that night. And what about you, Takato? When I first met you - no offense - but you were kind of a pussy. You'd've pissed your pants not too long ago, being here. Your leadership ability is orders of magnitude improved, yannow. I really don't see how you can't see it".
"That's not what I mean", Takato explained. "I mean... inside. Sure, I have changed in those external ways, and I have my friendship with Guilmon: that's a big change. I don't know how to explain nit better, but, inside, I still think I'm the same as before".
"Take it up later", Koichi told him. "The philosophical discussions can wait. We're getting too close; we need to concentrate on the tasks at hand".
Inside the Kernel Sphere
"Listen up!", Juri demanded. "You can hear me, I know. You took my voice and my memories because I wasn't a good girl. I took Leomon's words about destiny and twisted them to justify my own self pity. Well, no more! Even I can live a happy life if I choose, and that's what I'm gonna do starting right now. If I try, even I can be a good girl. Everyone has that choice. Digimon aren't the only ones who can evolve: humans can do that too. That's what Calumon, Takato and Leomon tried to show me. I mistook Leomon's meaning, that we can't run from destiny. It wasn't about that, right Leomon?", she asked her digivice.
Did Leomon appear as a holographic image? Was it just her imagination? Juri didn't know, but it wasn't important. Leomon nodded his agreement.
"Thank you, Leomon", she said as the image disappeared. "Everything deserves to exist! So, please, don't eliminate it..."
"Juri! Culu!", Calumon called out. Juri was ensnared in those tendrils again for her effrontery, bound as though being crucified.
"It is a fact", the D-reaper told her, "no matter who they are, the beings called human, like Juri Katou, harbour the desire for destruction..."
"No!", Juri protested. "That's a lie!"
"It is a fact. The beings called human have the algorithm of desire to hurt others installed in their sub-conscience..."
"You're wrong!"
"It is a fact. The digimon, being created in the image of humans, are beings that destroy other digimon for their data to fuel their own limited evolutions..."
"NO!", Sakuyamon called back. They'd heard every word of the D-reaper. "That's wrong!"
"We're not like that anymore!", Hououmon disagreed.
"I reached this mega-form with Takato", Guilmon pointed out. "There was no destruction of other digimon involved. Besides, who the HELL do you think you are: telling me what I should or should not become?!"
"Human, digimon: both can evolve to higher levels", Hououmon pointed out.
"Juri!", Takato called out, as Dukemon leaped for the Kernel Sphere at the top of the "goddess".
"Juri!", Ruki called out as Hououmon followed.
Both were driven back by an explosion of light.
"FUCK!", Dukemon called out.
"SHIT!", Hououmon agreed.
"Huh?", Saint Galgomon was the first to see it, as he was covering the rear. A "sinkhole" was developing right next to him. "What... what's happening?!"
"It's that vortex Shibumi was talking about", Cuchulamon pointed out.
Hypnos Temporary HQ
"Chief!", Megumi called out. Thi... this this is just..."
"And so it begins", he said.
"Something else is materializing inside the D-reaper Zone".
"The D-reaper is connecting itself to both worlds now", Janyu pointed out. "Just as we predicted".
"This Transphotic Eddy that's forming is also our trump card to finally be rid of it", Shibumi announced.
"Deploying Operation Doodlebug", Dolphin announced.
"Megumi, boot Shaggai Kernel 3.2", Yamaki ordered.
"Shaggai?!", she said, horrified.
"It's not the same Shaggai", Yamaki explained.
"Shaggai booting", she said, as the Shaggai welcome screen appeared on the main monitor. "But we don't have Hypnos..."
"We have a substitute", Yamaki explained.
More agents were appearing, this time, definitely headed for Hypnos.
"Thousand Lightening Arrows!"
"Poo! Poo! Poo!", Marineangemon struck with his Ocean Love attack.
It was more of those bulbous-headed Agents.
"Erase Claw!", Cyberdramon got the last two.
No sooner were they gone, than every attack drone they'd seen up till now arrived in force. There were those rather ill-shaped energy bursters, those green anthroform agents, the skeletal blue-gray drones, and those like the first one they defeated.
"Shit!", Ryo called out.
"Now you see what we've been dealing with!", Shuichon replied. "Thousand Lightening Arrows!", Cherubimon fired back.
"Erase Claw!", Cyberdramon powered up his attack and kept firing. "Eease Claw!"
"Poo! Poo! Poo!", Matineangemon fired off the attack that destroyed enemies and fortified friends.
"Maybe hold back on that", Kenta said. "They'll be needing you later".
Cyberdramon took several hits of energy bursts.
"King Device!", Ryo scanned his card.
"I don't know if...", Kenta started to explain. It worked, however.
"Storm of Judgement!", Cherubimon unleashed the electrical attack.
"Dammit!", he swore. Two of those blue-gray agents wrapped their tendrils around him. They were already beginning to glow...
Yamaki was watching: "Let's hurry it up!", he called out. "I don't know how much time they can buy us!"
Inside The D-reaper Zone
Dukemon and the others were distracted by this latest development.
"What's that?", he asked as red "vapours" began pouring from the "sinkhole". "What's coming out?"
They watched as a great mass of tendrils appeared. These coalesced into another agent.
"That's rather obscene", Sakuyamon said. It looked like a tumescent dick with a blue head as tall as the "goddess".
"Now we have to deal with two of them?!", Cuchulamon called out. This wasn't looking at all good.
It opened a mouth at the tip and roared.
"Don't give it a chance to ass fuck you", Hououmon called out.
"Ruki!", Lutramon reprimanded.
"No matter what form the enemy takes, I, Dukemon, will not lose!", he issued another declaration of war as he attacked.
"Dukemon! Wait...", Jen was too late.
"Final Elision!", he fired, striking it in the back of its open mouth.
"Noway!", he called out. This attack did nothing, and it was his most powerful attack. A large sickle appeared, as the agent swung at Dukemon.
"Dukemon!", Sakuyamon called out as she watched him knocked down as the sickle struck.
Inside the Kernel Sphere
"This has got to stop", Juri announced. "I can change destiny... Everyone can choose their own destiny..."
("JURRRRIIII")
"Takato", she said to herself. He was calling from outside, calling for encouragement. ...
"Dukemon, you OK?", Saint Galgomon asked, concerned. That last attack had knocked him off his feet, and he was still laying there, flat on his back.
"I've been better", he said as he pushed himself to his feet.
"Alright, let's dance, you death god bastard!", Cuchulamon challenged, as he rushed towards this latest agent.
Cuchulamon caught two of those sickles, and was holding them back. "Dammit!", he called out. He wasn't getting close this way, and was out of action, just trying to hold back those sickles.
"Let's do this". Terriermon called to Jen.
"Burst Shot!", Saint Galgomon opened up with all gun ports. The ordinance was concentrated on its neck.
"Spirit Foxes!"
"Crimson Flare!"
"Hero's Light!"
Sakuyamon, Hououmon, and Cuchulamon attacked at once. It did something that deflected that attack. It seemed to be enveloped in tenuous blue flames.
"Huh?", Dukemon called out. He'd heard Juri's scream, as she, too, saw these same blue flames coming straight for her.
"Takato!", Kazu called to him, "leave this to us. You go get Juri".
"Agreed", Dukemon headed for the "goddess".
"Giant Bazooka!", Saint Galgomon fired off the heavy ordinance, again aiming for its neck. The detonations did nothing.
Dukemon ran and climbed up the side of that "goddess": "I'm almost there!", he called out. "Juri!".
Suddenly, a large head, like that of the Juri impostor, appeared. It fired some sort of blue-gray sludge at him, knocking him off, covering him with the sticky mess.
"After getting this close!", Takato called out, "Dukemon!"
"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do", Guilmon informed him as Dukemon dropped towards the ground.
"It can't be..."
Hypnos Temporary HQ
"Cyberdramon! Help Cherubimon!", Ryo called out.
Cyberdramon shlashed at the fiery tendrils, freeing Cherubimon.
"Poo! Poo! Poo!", Marineangemon sent Ocean Love bursts his way. He absorbed these: "Thanks, Marineangemon", he replied.
"Storm of Judgment!", he retaliated. This drove it back, away from the temporary HQ. This time, it was distressingly close.
"How do we get rid of these things!", Kenta called out.
"Hit them all at once", Cherubimon called back. "Hope Marineangemon's up to it".
"Pee pii plo plah"
"Good to go", Kenta interpreted.
"Now!", Cherubimon called out. "Storm of Judgment!"
"Erase Claw!"
"Poo! Poo! Poo!"
"We get 'em all?", Kenta asked.
"I hope so", Cherubimon replied, "that was a bit too close for comfort there... There don't seem to be more coming".
"I hope that's a good sign", Ryo said. "That the others are getting the better of it in its lair".
"Shuichon!", it was her mother, as she came out onto the street.
"Get back inside, Mom", Cherubimon told her, "I don't know how safe it is out here".
"I just want you to be alright".
"So do I, and I want you to be alright as well. If any more show up..."
"Shuichon, we'll take care of the mop-up operation", Ryo told her. "See to your mother and the others"
"If you're sure..."
"We have it under control", Kenta reassured.
Cherubimon devolved to Lopmon and Shuichon.
Inside the D-reaper Zone
"Dukemon, do you want to fly?" Did he hear that, or was he imagining it? He couldn't tell. "Do you want wings, Dukemon?"
"Yes! Give me wings!"
There was a flash of light...
"Grani!", Dukemon called out.
"I'm all banged up, and can no longer fly on my own. I shall give you want little power I have left".
"Grani... I knew you were a digimon", Dukemon said. "If you're sure..."
"I am. I have nothing left..."
"Then live on with us!"
A much brighter light enveloped Dukemon, as his costume began to change. This time, the armour was the same color as Grani, but with bright, canary yellow accents. He also had a new weapon, a double sword that served as an energy weapon that obliterated that Juri head. The way was clear to the Kernel Sphere.
"Is that Dukemon?", Hououmon asked.
"Looks like something's been added", Sakuyamon replied, as she noticed the white wings he'd sprouted, making him a flighted digimon. "And none too soon". ...
"Calumon, come here", Juri requested.
"What are you gonna do, culu?", he asked.
"I'm done with crying", she told him with determination. "I understand now: destiny is mine to determine!"
There was some sort of energy burst that blew out the side of the Kernel Sphere.
"You did it, culu?!", Calumon congratulated.
"Thank you, Leo... HUH?!", Juri called out.
She had an unexpected problem: that Chaos Mass was beginning to pour into the Kernel Sphere.
"Takato!", she called out.
Dukemon was having troubles of his own: those green D-reaper agents were attacking, defending the Kernel Sphere, trying to drive him back. This time, they fell easily to his new energy sword. It was just that there were so many of them. This was delaying Dukemon to a distressing degree: so close, yet still a too long wait for his liking.
"Juri!", he called back, "I'll be there soon. Hang in there!" ...
"Burst Shot!", Saint Galgomon fired at the "penis"
"Jen, I'm sorry, but that was the last of the ammo", Terriermon informed him.
"What do we do now?", Jen asked.
"Impmon", Kazu called out.
"Yeah, I agree: it's time".
Cuchulamon unsheathed his Lightening Sword: "Sakuyamon!", he called out, "I need your power. I don't have enough of my own, but if we combine your power with mine, I just think we might do this".
"Hellsamatter with you?!", she called back, "you have no idea what trying to absorb that much energy would do to you!"
"It's our only chance..."
"Koichi..."
"Renamon..."
"Kazu is right, it is the only way we're going to defeat that thing".
"I want to win too, but, is this such a good idea?"
"I believe in Impmon and Kazu".
"But if..."
"Don't worry about us", Kazu called back. "Our decision, mine and Impmon's, and we're agreed to take this chance".
"If you're sure..."
"We are"
Sakuyamon swung her staff, creating the overlapping circles of light that coalesced into a Crystal Sphere.
"Accept it, Kazu, Impmon".
"I hope this is the right thing", Koichi said, "and that we didn't just kill a friend".
Renamon had nothing to say to that. She didn't have to say anything.
With that, Sakuyamon's staff burst into data. Next, all the body armour, the fashion accessories, even the hair bands, disappeared into data. All that was left was the body suit. The Crystal Sphere turned into overlapping circles, but of a different colour and texture. It drifted over to Cuchulamon, then became another Crystal Sphere, this one began sending electrical arcs into the upraised sword.
"You alright?", Sakuyamon called out, as this was causing Cuchulamon considerable stress. Kazu and Impmon felt it too: like repeated high voltage shocks with a bit of RF burn thrown in.
"We're... OK", Cuchulamon said, but barely and not entirely convincing.
"Koichi", Renamon called out. He dropped to his hands and knees inside the Data Sphere.
"Damn", he said, "that took more out of me than I expected", he was about to pass out, but couldn't let himself lose consciousness.
Sakuyamon had another problem: defenseless, and that "penis" was attacking with its sickles.
"Leave this to us", Saint Galgomon called out, as he kicked one away, and it splattered into Chaos Mass. Despite his bulk, he moved with surprising speed, punching and kicking the sickles meant for Sakuyamon.
"We have all of Sakuyamon's power", Kazu announced.
Now Hououmon!", Cuchulamon called out as soon as he'd finished absorbing Sakuyamon's energy.
Hououmon flew in, lifting him with her talons, flying him above the enemy. She let go, and as he dropped, he sliced through the thing, the drag of the sword slowing his fall. All the way to the ground where the Lightening Sword burst into data, its energy depleted.
"Crimson Flare!", she sent it her own parting gift.
"We did it!", Hououmon called out as the thing fell apart, split cleanly down the middle. ...
Chaos Mass was up to Juri's ankles as she clung to Calumon.
"Is... is... this all my fault?", she asked. That moment of self doubt, of self blame, gave the D-reaper a power boost. She felt it, and recognized her mistake at once. "Takato, I believe in you", she said, "and you, too, Calumon".
"Culu?"
Dukemon had fought his way through all those green anthroform agents.
"It's broken?", he asked himself, as he noticed the Kernel Sphere.
"Juri!", he called out.
He had a new problem: that Juri imposter was back again. It fired off that same bluish-gray sludge that he tried deflecting with his double sword. It worked until the weapon burst into data. The Juri impostor had him by the head.
"No matter how much you struggle", she said, "it will be for nothing. From the very beginning, humans and digimon were not meant to exist..."
"That's not your choice to make", Dukemon told her. Humans, animals, digimon: all have life to protect. We protect it because it's the most valuable thing in the world!"
Dukemon grabbed her wrists, trying to free himself from her grasp.
"Takato?", Juri said. The Chaos Mass was up to her hips. "Please get here before it's too late". ...
The victory was a short one. That "penis" pulled itself together, repairing the damage.
"FUCK!", Cuchulamon called out.
"All our power... for nothing?", Sakuyamon asked.
The thing tried a fresh attack, but something was wrong. It was Saint Galgomon who first saw.
"The Holy Beasts!", he called out. The four Digimon Sovereign were in the process of dragging that thing back to the Digital World, to its doom.
Hypnos Temporary HQ
"Terminated" flashed on a desktop monitor: "The being in the Transphotic Eddy has been terminated", the operator called out.
"Yes!", Yamaki called out. "Time to deploy Shaggai"
"Tao, are you really OK with this?", Daisy asked. She got no answer.
"Shibumi?", Dolphin asked.
"Everyone: prepare yourselves", Shubumi announced as he clicked a key. The lights dimmed, and a holographic image of the Transphotic Eddy appeared in the middle of the room.
"It's amazing", Shuichon said.
"Let's hope this works", Lopmon agreed.
"Jen! Terriermon! Can you hear me?", Janyu called out.
Inside the D-reaper Zone
"Dad?", Jen said, as the image of his father appeared, seeming to hover just outside the Data Sphere. This was something he'd never seen before. All prior communications had been over radio, and audio only.
"I loaded a certain program into Terriermon", Janyu was explaining.
"What program? What are you talking about?"
"We know the D-reaper reads memories, so we couldn't tell you about it until now in case it read yours. It's Yamaki's Shaggai..."
"Shaggai", Jen recalled the time the Wild Ones were being pulled into that red vortex above the Hypnos building, and the disaster that followed. Whatthefuck! Father!..."
"It's not the Shaggai you knew", Yamaki's image broke in. "It affects both the Digital and Material Worlds", he was explaining. "It created a vortex that pulled in artificial lifeforms, that was its purpose".
"And why would you put that thing... You can't!", Jen explained. "Before, Koichi and I we corrupted the Shaggai program. That's why it nearly destroyed Hypnos".
"So it was you two", Yamaki said in admiration. "I suspected one or more of the Wild Bunch. I figured it was some sort of sabotage. This time, we made certain we compiled it with a clean compiler".
"Right now, below you, there is a tunnel that connects the two worlds", it was Dolphin breaking in. With your power, you can deploy it, and force the D-reaper to reverse its evolution. Once it's back to its original form - a long obsolete program - it won't be able to do any more damage".
"I see!", Jen exclaimed. "Dad! You and your friends are amazing!"
"Shaggai has been reformatted so that it won't harm any of you", Yamaki explained. "Ram it up D-reaper's ass!"
"Terriermon?"
"Jen?"
"Let's go!"
Saint Galgomon dropped into the depths of the Transphotic Eddy. Sakuyamon and Cuchulamon knew he'd arrived as there came a greenish glow, and sparks flying around inside the shaft.
Hypnos Temporary HQ
"It looks like it's beginning to have an effect", Daisy was saying, "the D-reaper's growth is slowing down"
"So far, everything's been working out as planned", Shibumi was talking to himself, "so why do I feel so uneasy?"
"We can do it!", Curly announced.
"Something... something is wrong", Shibumi continued his self conversation.
Inside the D-reaper Zone
Dukemon was taking a beating from the impostor Juri. She delivered stronger kicks and punches than he'd expected. She beat him back towards the "goddess". She thrust him into the mass of tendrils making up its form.
"Disappear!", she called out as she gave a final shove. Dukemon flew into the mass.
"Takato?", Guilmon asked.
"We... we won't!", Takato answered.
With a renewed burst of strength, Dukemon flew back out, surprising the impostor Juri.
"Everything deserves to live!", Dukemon announced as he hit her hard. This time, the Juri impostor, and the last obstacle, vanished in splatters of Chaos Mass.
"Juri?", Dukemon asked. He finally made it to the Kernel Sphere, but neither Juri nor Calumon were anywhere to be seen. Was he too late? Did they drown in Chaos Mass? ...
"The Chaos Mass is beginning to flow back", Sakuyamon announced.
"Saint Galgomon did it", Cuchulamon agreed. "It looks like this will be the end of the D-reaper". Hououmon landed beside them.
Dukemon then noticed a blue green sphere. Inside, there were Juri and Calumon. It looked like Calumon had discovered some of his new digimon powers.
"Juri! Calumon!", he called out. He noticed a bundle of red tendrils from the "goddess" coming for him, and fast. It wasn't looking too good, but these tendrils barely missed. The "goddess" was making a moaning sound, the first they'd heard from it. It was sliding back, away, and towards the "sink hole".
They all watched it disappear into the vortex that it had thought to use to destroy two worlds. Now, its own weapon of mass destruction was attacking itself.
Sakuyamon was the first struck, as she doubled over.
"Something isn't right", Renamon said the obvious.
"Impmon!", Kazu called out.
"Something's strange", he replied. Kazu and Koichi saw the same thing: their Data Spheres beginning to fade out.
"Guilmon!", Takato called out.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can hold our form", he explained.
"So close! FUCK! JURRRRRIIIII!"
Takato and Guilmon unmerged. As did Impmon and Kazu, Ruki and Lutramon, Koichi and Renamon. Jen came floating up from the Transphotic Eddy into which Chaos Mass was flowing at an increasing rate.
"Guilmon", Takato said.
"Takato", Guilmon replied, "go get Juri!"
Takato grabbed onto Guilmon's tail, as the red dino spun, slinging Takato towards Juri and Calumon. For whatever reason, they were able to float weightless.
"If we don't get the fuck out of here soon...", Renamon was saying to Lutramon.
"When the rest of that red shit goes, it takes us along with it", Lutramon completed that unpleasant thought.
"Juri! Juri!", Calumon was calling out.
She was beginning to come to: "Juri, it's me... Takato"
"Ta... ka... to?", she asked. She realized that he was holding her.
"Yeah... I came here... to get you".
"I'm happy... I really missed you..."
"Me too..."
Juri threw her arms around Takato's neck.
"Yeay, culu?!", Calumon agreed.
Renamon, Impmon, and Lutramon and their partners joined them: "If we don't get out of here and soon...", Renamon was saying.
"But... how?", Takato asked.
"Hey guys! Still screwing off in here?". It was Kenta. He, Marineangemon, Lopmon and Shuichon were traveling inside one of Marineangemon's Ocean Love spheres.
"Here to save the day, it's us", Shuichon called out.
"Kenta! Shuichon!", Takato called back.
"You guys", Juri said.
"C'mon, let's go home!", Kenta proposed.
"Terriermon!", Jen called out. "He's still down there! Can you get him? Marineangemon?"
He knew what Jen wanted, as he sent an Ocean Love sphere into the vortex. Soon, Terriermon drifted into sight.
"Terriermon!", Jen called out.
"Mou... men... tai", he answered weakly.
"We're all going home", Takato declared.
"Home", Juri agreed.
"We'll be together forever", he promised, "right, Guilmon?"
"Uh, huh!", he agreed.
"Culu!" ...
"Was that just a program?", Yamaki asked himself. "Or was it... something else... something that made contact with a different world, deep within the networks? For now, we have no way of knowing... For now. For. Now".
Chou Park
It was about 10:00AM, when they escaped from the D-reaper Zone. Everyone had gathered in a meadow. They were pleasantly surprised that most of the D-reaper damage had reversed itself as the Chaos Mass disappeared down the vortex. The park looked the same as always. The only thing missing from the landscape was the twin towers of the original Hypnos building. There was nothing left but the foundation.
"It's over, it's really over", Koichi was the first to speak up.
"Takato, we did it!", Guilmon exalted.
"Yeah, we sure did", he agreed.
It was the hardest thing Ruki had even done: "Uhhh... Juri..."
"I'm glad", Juri said.
"Huh?", Ruki looked perplexed.
"No one else: I don't want to lose anyone else", Juri declared with conviction.
"You... you're... forgiving me?"
The answer came with the warm smile that they hadn't seen since Leomon died. "Ummmm", she said with a nod.
"Ohhhhhh...", was all she could say. It was more than Ruki was expecting, more than she deserved. Both understood Ruki's speechlessness.
"You made it out!", it was Janyu and Yamaki, just now arriving at the park.
"What the hell happened back there?", Koichi asked.
"It was my fault", Janyu explained. "That Red Card... Shibumi forgot to take into consideration the hybrid forms when he designed that algorithm. It terminated prematurely".
"Moumentai!", Terriermon replied. "Made no difference, and we didn't devolve until the job was done".
"I know you're probably tired...", Yamaki started.
"You got that right", Koichi replied. "I could use some shut-eye".
There came a chorus of "Yeahs".
"I would greatly appreciate it if all of you would first come back with us to Hypnos. We'd like to run some tests to make certain all of you are OK", Yamaki explained.
"We'll try to make it as brief as possible, so you can get back to the resort", Janyu added. "Then you can rest up for tomorrow".
"What's tomorrow?"
"Press conference", Yamaki explained. "I was able to put the press off that long. Everyone is going to want to know what happened, and who it was who ended the D-reaper threat".